The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-04-22
which Evelyn and ! slept through

which Evelyn and slept through
all unconsciously that Moilie
arose and inspected the man
sion, and awnkned me- a few minutes
later, her brown eyes wide with fear.
81 saw a man drop from the slant
ing roof" she said, "and take to his
heels. know some one was trying
TO enter the house."
"And but for your watchfulness and
your nerve, he would have succeeded,
no doubt" / said. And then, after
| the fashion OF brave men, when the
| burglar has gone, arose and made a
thorough investigation of the house.
Turned on all the gas jets and slam
| med all the doors, as il to say:
who's afraid?--not L."
During the next week kept a brace
OF pistols i'll my room, but slep.
soundly through all the noises OF the
night. If | happened to hear the dog
bark turned over with contented
consciousness that Molie would hear
and investigate. And like the man
who crept down stairs behind the
shelter OF his wife's skirts at similar
iuncture, thought, at would be
very mean burglar who would harm
woman anyhow"
Six weeks later Moliie aroused us
early in the morning with the start
ling announcement that the house
had been robbed All the solid silver
was gone from the dining room and
the window was wide open.
| | sprang to my feet and made a
clutch for my clothing which hung
over q chair. Yes, my purse. which l
had left in one pocket, containing $25
was gone.
Just then Evelyn moaned: "Oh,
my rings and brooch are gone! left
them on the dresser and they are not
here!"
ooh, Evelynl" l cried, chow foolish
and careless you were to leave your
iewelry there"
"Yes, DEAR" Evelyn answered, meek
| ly, ~ ought to have put it with your
watch under the pillow" and as she
spoke removed both pillows and dis
closed the fact that my watch, too,
was missing.
ut would have been easier for the
burglars ii we had only put everything
theywanted in one place, you know"
Evelyn added, maliciously, "and an.
SO glad you had your pistols handy,
John. dear"
Molie III the meantime had dlsap.
peared-possibly at the juncture when
made a wild rush for my clothing
and now she reappeared with tear-wet
eyes. "My room was entered, too"
she said, "and 50 OF my money taken,
and my gold ring"
"Never mind, I'll make it all right
with YOU" | said, "but how was it
that you slept through it all, Mollie?"
~ don't know-only it had been
washing day and | was very tired"
And did you hear the dog at all?"
''No; don't believe he barked
can't understand it. Perhaps they
had drugged him during the day, or
something"
| OF course sent for the police, and
OF course they took an inventory of
the rooms and the missing articles.
and OF course they looked wise and
knowing, and OF course that was the
last of it. paid Molie her 50, and
her lover, jim, supplied another ring
shortly, and the domestic machinery
went on as before.
"John," said Evelyn one day tome,
you must stop smoking so much, or
you'll be paralyzed one of these days.
1t is perfectly awful the amount OF
cigars you consume"
81 don't smoke any more than
used to-" said, ~ have kept just
about so Tor good many years. !"
"Why, John, you deceive yourself!
You have no idea how the habit is
gaining upon you. know by the
quantity OF cigars that are brought
to the house. Just look over your
last two or three months accounts
and see for yourself"
swell, will,' sald, and ! brought
out my books. Evelyn looked over
my shoulder,
Cigars, 14th ult.; cigars, 90; cigars,
%; cigars, 90" &c.
"You see, she said, "and every
, time it was a box OF cigars"
"Well, where are they now?" | ask
ed blankly.
J echo answers, 'Whero?'" /" replied
, Evelyn. "You have smoked them up,
; John. fou did not realize how the
habit was gaining upon you, but did
when saw those boxes come into the
become empty"
Maybe l get up in the night and
smoke" said, "but surely, Evelyn
dear, am not conscious OF smoking
any oftener than ! did q year ago"
"Well, they vanish, and | know
, don't smoke 'em, and there are the
figures before YOU" was Evelyn's con
: elusive rejoinder. ''ralk about gro
; cery bills, just you say word again
! if you dare, about expenses"
~ won't mention 1t, assure you,
, ] answered meekly. "lf you will drol
t the obnoxious subject, Twill. Shake!'
]. and held out my hand.
r mo, Pll not make any such com
$ pact" laughed Evelyn, drawing hel
0 hand away. "pll talk about it unti
). see some sign OF reform on YOU
o part
Q II am afraid. dear, the fire OF my
Il resolves will all end in smoke"
s paid all my bills by check on th
l. bank where ! deposited my money.
S My wife frequently sent Mollie tt
5 make household purchases, providing
her with check out OF which tn
n butcher or baker took payment, re
n turning the change
One night my wife and We're enjoy
n ing a pleasant tete-a tete in our nea
and orderly home after an elegantl,
o served dinner, when u man desired tt
0 see me at the door on business.
1t was Mr.. Smith, our baker.
Q 81 called to SEES you about this littl
S check" he said. '"rhe bank refused
|. to take it, saying it was not you sic
v nature"
}. took the check and looked at it
J. The amount was S., made payabl
a to bearer, and my name i'll full signed
II But it was not my pennanship
,s though an excellent forgery.
10 "Who gave you this check?" ask
r ed.
why, your girl, Mollie You kno,
,r she always brings checks in paymen
n for what she gets and l give her th
1t change. Yesterday she brought hi
t and gota can OF oysters. 1told her th
L. signature was not natural, but she SAT-
you scratched it of in a great hurr.
?, Just ~ ron were going ont. The bank